Houston’s affirmative action program — it was created to stop discrimination but now it’s helping the rich get richer. If you think affirmative action was controversial before, wait until you see what a multi-million dollar mess it has become.

Drive south on the bridge to Kemah and look to your right. It’s hard not to notice an 11,000 square foot mansion. The property appraises at about $2 million. Do the owners look like they need affirmative action help from Houston’s city hall? Well, they got it — to the tune of $12 million.

We asked city affirmative action director Velma Laws, “Do you think it’s fair that people with mansions can get affirmative action contracts?”

“I believe it’s fair if they are qualified to participate in the program,” she responded.

Imagine a big icebox pie, except this one doesn’t just have lemon filling. It’s full of money — city contracts. For 22 years Houston’s city hall has used affirmative action to make sure qualified minority and women-owned companies get a piece of the pie. Contractors wanting city business have to make a good faith pledge that a percentage of the work will go there.